from Over Land and Sea - November 2000

The front page quote can sometimes make or break a book. Cass' does neither, but it does give something of an insight into what is certainly to be found in between the fascinating 239 pages that follow. But befor I go on, I suppose I had better enlighten the uninitiated amongst you as to who Cass actually is.

Those of you who have been coming oversince the seventies or early eighties will not need the introduction, the rest of you may well do. Cass was one of the top boys in the former ICF, the beloved West Ham Inter City Firm and was a very well known and respected (by other club hooligans) hard man.

The book gives graphic details of some of the fun and games the lads got up to and also tells the story of how Cass was fitted up over a stabbing in Sheffield. However, the book isn't typical 'we did this and we did that - look at us, we were hard' book at all. And there are more than enough stories and anecdotes included to bring a tear to the eye of even the toughest of you out there.

The book takes you through Cass' early years as an adopted black boy in a white family and how he had to grow up in a totally white area, constantly abused outside of the home and at school for the colour of his skin and how his adoptive parents gave him the love and self respect that shaped him and his perception of life today.

It's not hard to realise just why the black kid had to learn to fight. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have survived. It's as simple as that. And when you add that apart from his skin colour, he was also named Carol. things really need no more explanation. He tells of how he was finally taken, by Frank Bruno, to Jamaica to meet his real father, and then realised that he had actually lived in the East End for many years before returning to his home land. In fact, just yards away from where Cass was hiding, slipping bail conditions.

The family side of the book is very moving, and it was only recently that he even found out that he had a natural family with brothers and sisters. And how he finally agreed to meet his birth mother, even though he had denied her very existence for so long.
It's exciting, and moving, all at once. It is an exceptional piece of writing.

The fourteen chapter book takes many twists and turns, and slips from one subject to another with relative ease. There have been so many twists and turns in Cass' life, so many adventures, that this book can't fail to interest you. Cass tells the story of the time he first met Frank Bruno on a railway platform, surrounded by knife-wielding skinheads, and of another occasion when he was shot three times as he worked the doors of various South London nightclubs.

His own security business has earned a great deal of respect in those circles, and there are many tales of what he and his team got up to. Including the amazing story of how he was called in by Terry Lawless to take control of security at a Mark Kaylor title fight.
I have to admit that I was drawn with great interest to the tales of the ICF court case and how the case against Cass and the others finally collapsed due to police fabrication.
It is amazing to read just how disgraceful the police tactics were, and in all honesty, just how lucky those that got away really were.

But there's one thing you can't really say about Cass, and that he has relied on luck to get him through his life. Sure he has had enough of it - we all have, haven't we? - but it is the way he has constantly driven himself to get what he wants that is so evident. When he went into the security business, he didn't rest until he had the best set of doorman in the country. He would fight - literally - with anyone, or any gang, to make sure things were kept as they should be. He kept the doors in order, and sooner or later, everyone gave up trying to get into Cass' patch. The stories of how they tried though are guaranteed to give you a few sleepless nights.

It wouldn't be stupid perhaps, for someone to pick up on the marketability of Cass, and use him in their advertising campaigns. I'm sure he couid do a job for Stanley Tools!
He has spent more than the odd occasion inside, and there are tales aplenty of those times and how he had to make sure he stayed on top whilst in there.

All in all, it is a quite astonishing tale of his life. A fascinating story of a man bom to fight, and a man bom to write this book. I can honestly recommend it to everyone. I loved it.
However, I suggest you read it with the lights on...........

Steven Howard, in the Sun newspaper - 23rd October 2000

What do Paulo Di Canio, Stuart Pearce, Cass Pennant and Reggie Kray have in common?

Some might suggest a certain demeanour that rules out meaningful discussions over the harden fence. Others, more au fait with the world of literature, will know they all have biographies out at the moment - and nowhere more heavily hyped than in the bookstore on the corner of Barking Road and Green Street.

Mr Pennant certainly deserves all manner of respect as he was there in person on Saturday afternoon signing copies. He was a very large, well-upholstered gentleman.

His celebrity had not previously come to my attention though, observing the chilling words on the front of his book, this was perhaps not such a bad idea.

Under the title "Cass", they read "All four had blades but I didn't care - I was going to rip them apart with my bare hands!"

He has very large hands. I moved on quickly.

Garry Bushell , in the Sun newspaper

Who chooses the books for the Whitbread Book Awards? The best biography of 2000 was "Cass", the true tale of a black kid from Kent rejected by everyone except a bunch of soccer hooligans. Cass Pennant saved Frank Bruno from a beating. And as thanks, Frank flew him to Jamaica to meet his real dad. His moving story wasn't even considered for an award. It'd make gripping TV.

from Newham Recorder - April 2000

A former member of notorious soccer gang the West Ham InterCity Firm had football fans queuing to meet him when he visited a bookshop. Cass Pennant, 42, who survived being shot three times in a nightclub, signed copies of his book "Cass" outside Newham Parents' Centre Bookshop and chatted with supporters on their way to the home game against Arsenal.

Vivian Archer, manager of the Barking Road, Plaistow, shop said many people came to the shop especially to meet Cass. More than 120 copies of the book were sold in two hours. She added that it had proved a massive hit, with almost 400 copies sold in the shop since its publication just over a month ago.

Cass is now a successful businessman who has turned his back on football violence. He was one of 11 people acquitted in the 2 million pound Operation Full-Time trial against alleged hooligan ringleaders in 1988. The book, launched at the Peacock pub, Canning Town, tells of how Cass became one of the most feared figures in the InterCity Firm.

readers' reviews on amazon.co.uk

August 16, 2003
Reviewer: ANDY RICHARDS from WEST BROMWICH, WEST MIDS United Kingdom
a awesome book very well written tells what i can see to be the truth out of the hooli books probably closest to the truth you will find.

June 26, 2002
Reviewer: divers316 from england
this book is an interesting read as it gives you an insight into life of a 'top boy' in one of the most notorious football firms in the country the ICF, but it also gives you glimpses of cass's life outside the world of footbaall hooliganism it shows how he is respected on the terraces and among his many friends including a certain Frank Bruno. this book is different to many of the hooligan books on the market it is not just a scrap book of the many 'offs' hes had but its a detailed account of his life outside of violance. i would recomend this book to most readers of hooligan books its up there with the best of them like Soul Crew and Blades Business Crew.

April 9, 2001
Reviewer: A reader from England
When i started to read this book i thought Cass was going to be another thug who was just full of himself.But after reading it i had a slight admiration for him.I was one of the millions who thought football violence was a few yobs with to much drink.But this book opened my eyes to what really goes on.Every match was treat like a military operation right down to the last detail.Cass Pennant pulls no punches in this well written book which leaves nothing to the imagination.I was engrossed from start to finish. Having read several books on football violence i believe this is the only one you need to read.
a great insight into the life of an"'ordinary'" eastender...,

March 26, 2001
Reviewer: A reader from new york, usa
an exceelent read.this book shows the reader how and why football holligans were part of the game in the seventies and eighties.it gives the reader the chance to feel how it was like to be a known "face" and to take on othere like minded fams of other teams. other faces such as jimmy "half plank" durcan, fred"bald monster" foxall and micky" fat plop" were in and around the same scene , but never had the brutal reputation of Cass..this is a must read for anyone looking to find out how london's east end produces some of the toughest and intimidating thugs.

January 2, 2001
Reviewer: A reader from East London (England)
As someone who knows the man, this took me to the good old days - well written - well remembered - well done! This really goes to show how wrong people were to say 'hooligans' were racist thugs and that 'nothing would come of 'scum' 'Cass' is living proof that if you want to 'grow up' and progress then you can - only those people who live in a time-warp are the ones who never 'move on' FOLLOW UP PLEASE!
 
December 29, 2000
Reviewer: (ted@spook.net) from Berkshire
Enjoyed the book, liked the growing up years and the school bits, very similar to Martin Kings hoolifan, still a good read, nice one carol.(Cass)

December 13, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from San Francisco, CA (originally from Dagenham, Essex)
Cass tells it as it really is, believe me I can confirm some of the details as I too used to be one of those so called fans who used to wait for Arsenal fans at Liverpool Street station. Still many people cannot understand football violence and fans such as the ICF and what they stand for but maybe this book by Cass can open people's eyes as to the real extent of what used to and still does happen between rival fans. Without question Cass was a force and a face in and outside of the ICF, known throughout the country as someone not to tangle with. This book shows that yes you can put your hands up and admit that you were involved in something wrong but even the hardest football fan can mellow with age.

November 8, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from East London
If you're looking for a blow-by-blow account of how the ICF took on all-comers, then forget it. This book is about the life and times of the author, which involved more than football. In fact the book covers more of his life away from the terraces and dedicates much space to his nightclub businesses. Unfortunately, a lot of tales are cut short and the book leaves you asking lots of questions that remain unanswered - perhaps there are some good (and legal) reasons for this, I don't know.

October 12, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from newcastle upon tyne
big cass is a living legend, from brighton to carlisle, he is regarded as one of the toughest hardmen in the country. Along with andy swallow and bill gardner, he was one of the main driving forces behind west ham's infamous ICF and this is his long overdue story. Well written and highly enjoyable, this book is a must for anyone who wants a rollercoaster read that offers action, humour and touching pathos as well as any old top boys out there who can remember what it was like to face the icf. 'Cass' is one of those books that stand head and shoulders above the competition. devoid of the usual cliches that most books penned by so called hooligan generals are crammed with, this book manages to capture the feel of the time and paints a gritty picture of growing up as a black barnados boy in inner city britain. It also dispels once and for all the myth that all football hooligans are white, racist neo nazis, check out how the ICF backed up the SWP and turned over the N F at lewisham. having read the book, its easy to see how the anger, frustration and resentment of his experiences turned cass into the awesome fighting machine that he undoubtedly is and more positively how this very dangerous individual has turned his life around. buy this book and pay the big guy his dues.

October 2, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from London
Cass Pennant is a hard man. He describes his battles on the terraces, without exaggeration and his door and minding work without boasting.
He opens his heart and soul to reveal his family background and the hurt it caused throughout his life. He has not always been an angel and you read about his transformation from thug to family man. Two years ago at Old Trafford I watched a Manchester thug confront a big black man who was holding his little boy's hand. The thug threatened the black man and the little boy with all sorts. Cass looked down with distain at the thug and said ' Ten years ago you would now be dead' The thug moved on and so has Cass.